Automatic sprinkler system.



No. 877,707. PATENTED JAIL 28; 1908. J. FIDDBS 62 J. F. WATT. AUTOMATIC $PRINKLER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26,107.

W\TNESSQES-,'

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JAMES FIDDES AND JOHN FORDYCE WATT, OF ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE EXPANSION SPRINKLER SYNDICATE LIMITED, OF ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

No. 877 ,7 O7.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Jan. 28, 1908. I

Application filed February 261 1907- Serial No. 359,456.

' into s rin er su ply pipes serves normally to exc ude water rom the same.

- In systems of the above t pe the water is only released when the fusib e sprinkler head has been 0 ened by the action of fire and the compressed air in" the supply pipes escapes from the sprinkler head at the seat of the outbreak.

The invention has for its object to efiect the quick and automatic release of the compressed air on outbreak of fire so that the water will be in the sprinkl r 'su ply pipes ready to attack the fire imme lately the out the building to be protected.

sprinkler head is opened. v

' The invention consists of an attachment connected to an automatic fire alarm system of the ty e in which-"fluid under pressure is contained in narrow tubing carried through- A branch connection is taken from the end of the sprinkler suppl pipes furthest from the main water va ve, said branch being normally kept closed by means of a valve opcrated on the action of an automatic fire detector, the valve connection being so arranged that while it allows the com ressed air to be exhausted Water is not alowed to flow through it.

In the accompanying vdrawings which illustrate the invention, Figure l is a sectional elevation of part of a sprinkler system embodying our lmprovements and Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections of forms of air outlet valves that may be employed in place of that shown atsFig. 1.

Asshown, we place a diaphragm valve A between the junction B to the sprinkler supply pipes and an outlet branch C, said dianhragm valve A being connected to a pneumatic alarm system in which air is held under compression in seamless metal tubing B of small diameter.

The compressed air in the tubing B passes through a valve B and acts on the diaphragm valve A to keep the same on its seat a thus preventing the passage of air to the outlet C. Near the outlet 0 or at any other convenientpoint between the diaphragm valve and said outlet is placed a valve 0 so arranged that it allows the escape of the compressed air and closes by the flow of water that follows on the release of the compressed air in the sprinkler supply pipes.

The action of the arrangement is as follows :On an outbreak of fire the compressed air in the tubing B is released by fracture of The diaphragm valve a frangible air outlet. A is lifted from its-seat a by the air iressure in the sprinkler supply pipes and a ows the air to escape at the large outlet C; the resulting flow of water, after the air pressure has been reduced to a minimum, causes the valve 0 to close and V revents the exit of water through the out ct C. The arrangement described thus permits the rapid release of the air in the-sprinkler pipes and permits the pipes to fill immediately with water so that when the sprinkler heads open the Water is ready-to attack the, fire instead of being held back until the compressed air has es containing compressed air for normally ex- .cluding water from said piping, a branch pipe C connected to said piping and having.

a large outlet, a diaphragm valve A normally preventing passage of compressed air from said piping B to said branch pipe 0, tubing B normally containing compressed air but arranged to release such compressed air on outbreak of fire, a valved connection between said tubing B and said diaphragm valve A, whereby said diaphragm valve is normally subjected to the action of air pressure on both sides butis relieved on one side 2 aim-2'07 on escape of air from said tubing 13 so as i names to this specification in the presenee of to be lifted by the air in the piping B and a 1 two subscribing witnesses.

valve 0 permitting passage of air from said JAMES FIDDES.

pipinglB through said outlet C but adapted JOHN FORDYCE WATT. 5 to prevent the passage of Water through said Witnesses:

outlet. WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, I

In testimony whereof we have signed our JOHN ARMSTRONG, Jr. 

